Here's a listing of the current DNR's 2012 grant applications and your chance to support a specific ORV area and/or Education and Enforcement program -funded through the fuel tax revenue and ORV User permit fee process.

Deadline for your support letter is June 22nd - make sure you note the project number and send to DNR's contact person listed on this memo.

I hope you have taken time to draft a support letter for your favorite four wheel drive areas -suggestion - if you have two projects you are interested in for one area - "bundle" them together (i.e. Maintenance and Education/Enforcement programs) just make sure you note separate project numbers.

As the last paragraph on (both) DNR postings states " the most effective letters of support explain why a project is important to you a recreationist" -with Jim's detailed version of each project will now help to explain what the grant will be used for - it is to bad there isn't a dollar figure available.

The support letters are important - one of the first questions asked by the NOVA Advisory Committee when evaluating the projects - " do you have support for this project" - they are referring to letters on file with the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) Project Manager.

You now have an opportunity to voice your opinion on how important four wheeling is to you (dollarwise) and see the four wheel drive areas get there fair share of fuel tax revenue - these grants will be for a two year funding session (2013-2014).

Thanks for your time in this matter - "it is important" - two days and counting!

Deadline for your support letter is June 22nd - make sure you note the project number and send to DNR's contact person listed on this memo.

It is VERY IMPORTANT that you send your letter to the DNR contact person listed for each specific grant. That is the person responsible for presenting the grant request and it can help to boost their confidence when presenting to know that they have adequate support for their projects and that all interested parties are on board.

Some people in the past have taken it upon themselves to send their letters directly to the RCO office and in turn, those letters were not inlcuded in the grant presentation. That action failed to lend much needed support to the presenter and left a permanent record on file of that "missing support".

Sometimes the appearance of absence of the support from a particular group can be almost as damaging as anti-OHV efforts...

Of course - this is just from my personal experiences with seeking grants for projects in the Yacolt Burn.